Little Baddow

Nestling between Danbury, to the south and Hatfield Peverel to the north, Little Baddow has been awarded ‘best kept village’ within recent years.  It has a population of over 1,500 and the nearest train stations are in Chelmsford and Hatfield Peverel.  The northern boundary is marked by the River Chelmer and the Blackwater canal, where you will find the Paper Mill Lock, which is a very popular tourist spot offering canal cruises and tearooms.  It is very much an area recognised for its natural beauty, with boating, fishing, walking and various other leisure activities at your disposal.

The village is a walkers paradise, with many extensive and popular walks nearby, such as Heather Hills (managed by Essex Wildlife Trust) with it’s steep slopes, ling heather and a variety of native trees including elms, mature beech, scots pine and European larch – plus Blakes Wood (National Trust) which is renowned for it’s carpet of bluebells, and Lingwood Common with the historic fishing port of Maldon not too far into the distance.  Also, Holybred Wood, which covers 21 acres of ancient woodland and was purchased for the benefit of the village in 2000, which is now managed by Little Baddow Parish Council.

After a hard-days hiking you may want to drop into one of the two village pubs – The Rodney, a traditional English pub, serving real ales and home cooked food, or The Generals Arms, which can accommodate large parties of ramblers with it’s restaurant and bar food, and it’s close proximity to some of the most popular trails.

The village has one of the oldest chapels in Essex in The United Reformed Church dating back to the year 1707 when the land was donated by Francis Barrington.  Also within a mile of the village is the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, which is on a slight rise overlooking the beautiful Chelmer Valley.  Evidence of the early Norman church is seen in the north wall of the nave, which also incorporates Roman bricks and houses two fine oak effigies.

Wickhay Green Play Area contains children’s swings, a slide plus a basketball and football area, and the village sports field has been used as a cricket ground since the 1920’s, and is also utilised by various local groups and Elm Green Preparatory School.  A mobile library also visits the village every other Tuesday.

There are nearly two dozen local clubs and organisations to garner your interest – ranging from angling to rambling and everything in between.  The village is also fairly unique in having a dedicated History Centre, which is a community built project to house the village records.

Book a Valuation
Or call us today on 01245 500599